Pump and pumping system.



B. s. AIKMAN. v PUMP AND PUMPING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAR-3i- I917.

. Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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s. AIKMAN'. PUMP AND PUMPING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3121M]- B. 8. AIKMAN. PUMP A APPLICATIONFILED MAR.3I.'I9I7.

ND PUMPING SYSTEM.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- called blow oveis are BUBTUN S. AIKMA'N, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,

ASSIGNQR TONATIQNfil-Z BRAKE d5 PUMP AND PUMPING SYSTEM. -=4

To all'whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, Bun'rozv S. AIKMAN, a citizen of the United States, resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pumps and Pumping Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this'specificatlon.

My invention relates to pumps and pumping systems and contemplates an improvedapparatus which may be employed as an isolated plant for furnishing water to a residencejor an industrial establishment from a nearby source, such as a well. It'is the purposeof my inventionto provide 'an" improved system which supplies water fresh from the well, the intervention-of a storage or reserve tank, and whichwill be under faucet control by which I mean that the flow of water is eon trolled by the acts of opening and closing the faucets which form the supply outlets of the system. i

To supply water fresh to maintain the flow of water under faucet control is matter of prior art. The apparatus and systems heretofore known and from the well and ternately-operating chambers, valves operated by marginal differences in pressure or by time-clement devices, and to the fact that the pneumatic control employed led to frequent'misoperations such as are commonly where the system becomes cleared of wateiand the compressed air, employed as an operating mediunnis wasted.

According to my invention, there is provided a single water-chamber alternately subject to air pressure and relieved therefrom, thealternations being secured by the actuations ofvalve mechanisms which, in turn, are directly and mechanically dependent upon the rise and fall of the Water in the chamber. temis constantly und therefore a further object of my invention to provide an apparatus which will be as free from leaksas possible, which 'operatesiwith a minimum consumption of airand which that is without Fig. 3.

Referring first to Fig. l, which, as before i It will be understood that the syser pressure and it is Specification of Letters Patent. Pwtgntedl Fgltp jig, 11 91,? Application filed March 31, 1917. Serial No.

valve mechanism notwithstanding the fact that the rise and fall of the water in the chamber is comparatively gradual.

My inventionis illustrated in the aceom panying drawings, in whieh- Figure l is a more or less dia rammatic view illustrating the system as a Whole,"

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pump;

Fig. 3 is a vertical axial sectional'view taken on the plane of the line of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a verticahaxial sectional view taken on theplane of the line .l& of Fig.

2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; *ig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

*ig. 6 is a detail view of the controlling valve; and .Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view stated, is iagrammatie, it will be seen that the well curbing is illustrated at 8, the water level being indicated at 9. The pump structure, which I have indicated broadlyby the reference character 10, is disposed in the well at a suitable distance belew the water level therein, as will be described. The pump structure has leading therefrom three pipes, an air-pressure pipe 11, anexhaustpipe l2,and a water-discharge pipe 13. air-pressure pipe 11 is connected with a compressed air tank 14, in which air is compressed by means of a compressor 15, operate It till be clear to those skilled in the art that the compressor 15 may be operated by any suitable means, such v engine, and if desired means may be provided for automatically starting and stopping the prime mover dependent upon the fall and rise of pressure in the tank 14. In the 11 are provided.

of the valve shown in v for instance, by an electric motor 16.-

' conveniently nearby, to the distribution pipe in the building, and the compressor, motor, compressed air tank and chamber are suitabl housedin any convenient way.

s before pointed out, pressure is constantly maintained upon the system. It is therefbre necessary to maintain a certain pressure between predetermined minimum and maximum limits in the compressed-air tank 1.4, this being done'by the proper starting and stopping of the compressor 15, either manually or automatically. It has been my experience that, a proper compressed air tank being provided, it is necessary, in employing a distribution system for an'ordinary residence, for instance, merely to operate the compressor intermittently, say every two or three days, for a short time, in order to keep the pressure i the compressed air tank'within the desired limit.

It will appear as this description proceeds that, with the pressure properly maintained upon the system, everything is at rest so long as all the :outlet faucets of the system are closed, but as soon as one of them is opened the pumping mechanism will operate to maintain continuous the flow which immediately commences. When, the faucet is again closed the apparatus comes to rest and it will appear that the feed has been direct from the well with the proper pressure-to distributeit to whatever points desired.

Figs. 2 to .6, inclusive, to

I refer now to describe the pumping mechanism. Ahead member 22 and a base member 23, both of circular form, are joined by. a cylindrical housing 24, which forms a water chamber 25. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the head member 22 and the base member 23 are tied togather by means of twd pipes 26-26 which thread into downward extensions from the head member 22 and which set in sockets 27-27 in the base member 23. Gap screws .28-28 which, as shown, pass through the wall of the foot member 23, firmly hold the base member 23 in place and clamp the housbase member and the a water tight and air serves as the cyling 24 between the head member to form tight compartment which inder of the pump.

The base member 23 is provided on its under side with a central extension 30 to which a nut 31 is screw ,11 and the secondary atmosphere passageway threaded, a conical screen 32 being clamped between the nut 31 and the extension as illustrated. The base member 23 is provided with two water inlet openins 33-33 each of which is controlled by alift valve 34 mountedto reciprocate exhaust or atmosphere passage 47, the compressed air inlet passageways 48 and 49 the primary water chambers 50-50 with which the pipes 26-26 are connected, and a secondary water chamber 51. These passageways and chambers are isolated from each other, as will be described, the atmosphere or exhaust passageway being connected with the pipe 12, the compressed air inlet passageway 48 being connected with the pipe water chamber 51 beingaconnected with the discharge pipe 13.

eferring now to the exhaust outlet or 47, it will be seen that it is so fashioned as to lead to the axial opening 52 in the head 22, a valve seat 53 surrounding this opening. A lift valve '54 having a compressible face 55 cooperates with the valve seat 53- to open and close the opening 52, he valve 54 being mounted upon a stem 56 for vertical 56 is provided with a shoulder 57 to which I shall refer again later, and with an en largement 58 which rides in a sleeve 59' set axially in the head 22 and centrically in the opening 52. A helical spring 60 is confined in the sleeve 59 between the enlarglement 58 and the face of the valve 54. he compressed air inlet passageway 48 is connected by a port 61 which has a valve seat 62 surrounding the upper end thereof, this valve seat cooperatin with a valve 63 having a compresby a plug 69'. The valve 63 is provi edwith lands 70 in order to balance the pressure on .opposite sides of the valve when it is in open position, a spring 71 being disposed between the plug 69 on disposed con---.

movement. The stem sible face 64. The valve 63 is mounted on the valve and tending to 1 move the valve downwardly.

Secured to the under side of the head I is a cylinder and valve structure; This structure. provides a diaphragm chamber'o'r 45 phragm frame member 50 clumped upon the pipes -75 which is turn are clamped boulder i=- on the stem by means pg nut 77. This stem 56' extends down and is "aided in e SJlLlQI. 78. A b

se s a A 78 is disposed between the top plate '35 or mphragm chamber 73 is provided two ports, the compressed air port 79 exhaust port 80. The compressed air port 79 is connected with the compressed air passageway 4:8 by means of the passageway 83., cored in the diaphragm chamber casing '72 and in the head 22, and the exhaust port 80 is oonnectedwith the exhaust passageway 4-7 by meens of the passageway cord in the diaphragm chamber casing i end the head Fm". l

The valve mec ia'nism which controls the two ports 79 and 80 will now be described. will be seen that these two-ports are be end-that they site-each other. The port 79 which is of relatively small diameter is formed in a removable member 83' seated in the screw plug 84: which threads into the lower part so of the cylinder structure member 72. screw plug 84 is )rovided with a suitable axis-l opening and radial openings to put the port 79 in communication with the 00111;

pressed air passageway 81. The exhaust port 80 is formed or defined by two concentric tubes 85 and 86 of which the first'is mounted in the front wall of the exhaust passageway 82 and the other 86 is mounted in the rear wall of that passageway. The

so inner concentric tube 86 forms a guide for the stem S'Zof a double faced valve member 88, which has a yielding face 89 adapted to cover the port 80 and another yielding face 90 adapted to close the port Z0.

'32 is provided with e flange 91 surroundin do I b and stem 87, a yielding (lisp-hr: clamped to the flange 91 by m'...:ns i inn 5211 Supported from the brr which is .1. cylinder. 05 closed except for the ope igsin; along the upper end of the cylinder, end except for th open bottom. Tlhwurd the lower end the cylii'ider it is internally provided ea c o ng 5)? which provides a valve seat to be engaged by the ball float This bell float 00 is held in of the chamber by the bracket *hich guides the check valve 34. .d f the cylinder 95 is secured clamped on the vertical rnclitet 1.00 extends from the 03 end supports a pivot for lever 10.1 at 102. The upper El crank lever connects with esson:

' gm being clamped between the two v 522, clearly illustrated in with the are transversely oppo This valve to The (llu i a bracket which is threaded upon the outer end of the valve stem 87.. This valve stem is provided with a shoulder between which and the bracket 103 a pair of plates 114 are clamped upon opposite sides of the diaphragin 92. The lower arm of the bell crank lever extends over the cylinder 95 and-a water weight or float 104 is connected by means of a link 115 to the lower arm of the bell crank lever 101. T helower end of the water weight or floatis provided \vitlia stem 106 which extends down into a guiding sleeve 107 carried from the ring07 by means of the spider 108. T-l'iestcm 100 projects through the head 116 that closes the lower end of the water weight and this stem is connected on its inner side with the balancing spring 117 which extends up through the inside of the water weight and is hung from a pin 1 18 fastened-upon the diaphragm chamber structure 72.

. The water chambers SO--50 are provided outlet passageways 109-409 each of which is controlled by a check valve 110 between which and a corresponding plug 111 a spring 112islclisposed. As will be described.,.the water is forced .from the chambers 50-50 into the secondary water cham ber 51 passing through these'valves and from the secondary chamber 51 the water is forced .95 on to the distributing system.

The controlling valve 88 which controls the pressure existing below the diaphragm is removable through the opening in the diaphragm chamber structure that is normally closed-by the plug 84. For this purpose it is provided with the slot 119 to permit the be disconnected as by means of a screw driver. It is thus apparent that the valve may be readily renewed or inspected when desired.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assume that. a stroke has just been compieted and that-the water is rising to fill the pump cylinder when the parts are in the condition shown in Fig. 3. Due to the head of water in the well, the check valves 34. or. lifted and water flows into the cyliudcr 25. The main diaphragm isin its lower position as indicated in Fig. 3 and the exhaust valve 54 is open and the compressed air admission valve 03 is closed. The. air inthe pump cylinder 25 escapes through the screens 120 which cover the apertures in diaphragm operating cylinder. As the water 121 and passes rises in the cylinder 25 the first operation is to raise the float valve 99 andto bring it against its seat 98 thereby closing oil the bottom of the chamber 95. The wate then is desirable.

' air under pressure ently 'to' the cylinder above weight 104 loses enough 'porting action of the water in the cylinder 'sion valve 63.

the check such a point rises until it reaches the opening 96 in the cylinder 95 and as the water rises farther itquickly fills the cylinder 95 and the water weight by the sup- 95 to permit'the spring 117 to raise this water weight quickly to its uppermost position. 1This'movement ofthe water weight operates the bellcrank lever 101 to throw the valve body 88 to the right, as viewed in Fig.3, opening the compressed air admission port 7 9 for the diaphragm cylinder and closing the exhaust port 80 for the same. The pressure within the diaphragm cylinder also aids in holding the valve 88 over the exhaust port 80 because of the increased area upon which the compressed air is effective. The differential area of this valve is effective in producing a snap .action which As the port 79 is opened, the cylinder below the and the diaphragm rises. The first action of the diaphragmin rising is to bring the exhaust valve 54 upon its seat to cover the exhaust port 52. Further movement of the diaphragm compresses the spring 7 8' and moves the stem 56 independof the valve 54 to engage the stem 56 and to raise the compressed air admis- As the admission valve .63 is operated compressed air will be admitted the water therein and the water is forced through the openings 3 in the pipes 26 up through the pipes 26 through the primary water chamber 50, past water spaces 51 and out by way of the pipe 13. The checkvalves 34 are held closed by the pressure of the water against the top thereof. As the level of the water in the cylinder 23 falls, it does not affect the level of the water in the water weight 95 of this chamber is still held closed by the float valve 99. When, how ever, the level of the water has dropped to that the fioat valve 99 drops from its seat 98, the water in the as the bottom away water weight and the water weight losing the supporting effect of the water inthe chamber 95, drops quickly shifting the valves 88 from the port valve 63 may close.

due to the expansion 80 to the port compressed air and opening the exhaust valve to said inder.

So long as wateris moving out of the pum the pressure on the upper side of the diap ragmdoes not equal that upon the lower side andthe admission valve 63 is open. In case the pressures become equalized as when the faucets are all closed, the As soon as the faucets are opened the pressure in the pump drops of the air and expul- 79 cutting off the supply of to the diaphragm cylinder cyldiaphragm is filled with.

valves 110 through the secondary chamber 95 escapes suddenly As the compressed air has access to both sides of the diaphragm during the expulsion of the water, release of the pressure on the lower side of the diaphragm by shifting of the valve 88 causes a quick movement of the diaphragm downward due to the pressure of the air within the pump sequence of downward movement of the diaphragm is to lower the stem 56 first seat= ing thecompressed air admission valve. 63 then compressing the spring 60 between the enlargement 58 and the exhaust valve 54 until the shoulder 57 exhaust. valve 54 moving the same off of its seat. This opens the exhaust port 52 and the spring 60 isthen able to expand and move the exhaust valve 54 farther downward clearing the exhaust port 52 sufficiently to prevent it being thrown against this port by the outrush of air in the cylinder. As the compressed air valve 63 is closed and the exhaust valve 54 is opened,

sion of the water.

the pressure in the pump cylinder 24 quickly I falls and the head of water in the wel 7 although the water rises farther in the Water chamber 25, it does not rise within the cylinder 95 beyond the valve and there is no effect upon the water float until the water in the chamber 25 has reached the plane of the bottom of the opening 96, after which it pours into the cylinder 95 quickly and raises the float or water weight to shift the valve 88.

The speed with which the chamber 25 fills of course depends uponto the upper level above the same and the first constrikes the top of the the size of the inlet passageways and the head of the water in the well. I have. made exthat with a structure periments which show the lines of that built substantially along illustrated in the drawings and substanti ally 4 those proportions submerged about ten feet-v belowthe level of water in the well a period of about 11} seconds is required for the filling operation. If the capacity of the discharge and distributing pipe is great enough this momentary cessation of pressure will be hardly perceptible at the faucet, particularly since the expulsion period, assuming one 'or more faucets to be opened for a considerable length of time, consumes practically all the time. However, in order that the ap in the flow may be properly filled in T provide the air chamber 21 to which the pipe 20 delivers from the discharge pipe 13. Obviously, when the water in the discharge pipe 13 is under pressure, as it is practicallv all of ea ers the time, a certain amount of Water is forced up into the chamber 21. his action compresses the air in the chamber and forms a cushion which is maintained so long as the 5 pressure is notrelieved. vAs soon as the pressure is relieved, however, by the cessation of premure in the pump with a faucet. opened, tl given opportunity to exdoing so forces out the water which has been trapped therein and provides a flow from the faucet during the refilling period of thepump. This chamber 21 will, of course, be distinguished from a storage tank, since all that it does is to smooth out the variations in pressure in the system.

The flexible diaphragm to which the stem 87 is secured prevents the entry of sand, dirt or Water between the stem STand the sleeve 86. 0 lVhcre the general, combination of parts herein de ribed and illustrated is claimed in copendii'ig application, Serial. No. 52,808, the claims in the present application are directed to the specific improvement in the controlling, valve. i do not intend to be limited to the and d scribed as the invention may appear in other forms.

I claim:

in a pump, the con'ibination of n. dia phrat n, a cylinder head member having a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, said headhaving a passageway connnuaicating with the chamber, a compressed air inlet 5 portopening into said passageway, an 61(- valve body adapted to obstruct said ports one at a time, the exhaust port having a substantially larger area than the admission port to produce a seating pressure upon the valve and means for shifting the valve from oneport to the other,

2. In a pump, a cylinder, admission and exhaust valves for said cylinder, a diaphragm for operating said valves, a cylinder head member having a chamber for the diaphragm, an admission port and an exhaust port communicating with said chamber, said ports being arranged to face each other, a 0 "alve body between said ports, the area of he exhaust port being substantially greater than the area of the last said admission port, and means controlled by the level of Water in t e pump cylinder for moving said valve body rom one port to the other.

In a pump, a cylinder, admission and exhaust valves for the cylinder, a diaphragm 301* operating the valves, a cylinder head for the diaport and an exhaust having between said ports, said body havin a yielding face upon each side, the area 0 the exthe exhaust passing through the precise construction shown air inlet, admission "motor having a projecting valve seats, a valve body tor operating the valves. a cylinder head member having a chamber for the diaphragm, an admission port and an exhaust portcommunicating with said chamber, said ports being so disposed as to face each other,

a valve-body between said ports, the area of port being substantially greater than the area of the admission port a stem for operating said valve body, said stem -ylinder head member,

and a yielding diaphramn member scaling the opening around said .valve stem.

0. ,In a pump, a valve body comprising a central passageway, an air admission port on one side of the passageway, an exhaust port on the other side of the central passageway. a plugpassing through the side walls of the valve body and terminating at the cen tral passageway, said plug member having a central cavity and radial passages communieating with the admission passageway, said plug having a port of small diameter (011lmunicating with said central cavity, a port of large area opening into the central chant her and communicating-,7

with the QXlliilinl passageway, said port having an annular seat, a valve body having a stem axially in line with both ports, said valve body ha vi ng a sma l central yielding face for covering the port of small diameter and having an annular yielding face surrounding the stem for closing the large port, and means exterior o'f'the valve body connected to said stem for shifting the valve from one port to the other.

6. In a cylinder, a compressed and exhaust valves, an for operating said valves, said cylinder head member, said member having a central chamber, an air passageway on one side of the central chamber communicating with the air inlet, and

pump, a

air motor an exhaust passageway on the other side ports, said valve memb member.

7. In a pump, a cylinder, a compressed air inlet, admission andexhaust valves, an air motor for operating said valves, said members for closing the motor having a cylinder head member, said member having a central chamber, an air passageway on one slde of the central chamber communicating with .the air inlet, an exhaust passageway on the other side of the central chamber, said passageways-terminating in ports on the interior of the chamber, said ports lying axially in line with each other, an air inlet portbeing of a relatively small diameter, a-double faced valve member having yielding face. members for covering the ports, said valve member having a'stem passing axially through the exhaust port, a sleeve encircling and guiding said stem, a larger sleeve forming a seat about said exhaust ort, and means controlled by the level 0 the water in the pump cylinder for operating said valve member.

8. In a pump, a cylinder, a compressed air inlet, admission and exhaust valves, an air motor for operating said valves, said motor having a cylinder head member, said mem ber havinga central chamber, an air passageway on one side of the central chamber communicating with the air inlet, an exhaust passageway on the other side of the central chamber, said passageways terminating in ports on the interior of the chamber, said ports lying axially in line with each other, an air inlet port being of a relatively small diameter, a double faced valve member having yielding base members for covering the ports, said valve member having a stem passing axially through the exhaust port, a sleeve encircling and guiding said stem, a larger sleeve forming a seat about said exhaust port, -and means controlled by the level of the water in the pump cylinder for operating said valve .member, and a diaphragm connected at its 'centerto the stem of the valve member and clamped to said cylinder head member, said stem being connected to said level controlled means.

9. In a pump, fluid pressure to and exhausting the same from the pump chamber,

an admission port and an .exhaust port arg ranged substantially axially in line with each other, said ports 'opening into said pressure chamber, a valve having an axial bearing concentric with the exhaust port,

- pump. cylinder,

a main valve for admitting V a pressure cham-'- ber havmg. a movable element for operatlng valve.

. exhaust and admission valves for said pump cylinder, 2. pressure chamber having a movable elementfor controlling said main valves, said chamber having a fluid adm ssion passage and exhaust passage, an admission port and an exhaust port arranged substantially axially in line with each other, said ports opening into said pressure chamber, and a valve having an axial bearing concentric with the exhaust port for covering said ports alternately.-

11. In a pump, a main pump cylinder, main exhaust and admission valves for said a pressure chamber having a movable element for controlling said main 'valves, said chamber having a fluid admission passage and exhaust'passage, anadmis- $1011 port and an exhaust port arranged substantially axially in line with each other, said ports vopenlng into said pressure chamber, and a valve having an axial bearing concentric with the exhaust for moving said valve.

13. In combination, a main operating cylinder and valves, a dia-' phragm for operating said valves, a head member having a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, an inlet port opening into the chamber, an exhaust port opening into the chamber, a valvebody for obstructing the ports one ata time, the exhaust valve having greater area than the admission valve to produce a seating pressure, and float controlled means for shifting said In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of March, A. D. 1917.

BURTON S. AIKMAN.

port for cover-. ing said ports alternately, a diaphragm ias-' Ypump having a 

